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Veterans at Risk

Up until the 1980s, every branch of the United States military extensively used asbestos-containing products during construction, mainly for insulation purposes. Despite evidence and knowledge of the chemical's hazardous health effects, the military heavily used asbestos from the 1930s through the mid-1970s, especially in naval ships and shipyards. Each military division steadily decreased usage of asbestos materials as evidence of the compound's damaging capabilities emerged - but not before hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of veterans were exposed.

According to a shocking statistic, more than 30 percent of Americans plagued with mesothelioma (an aggressive cancer that attacks the internal lining of the lungs, heart, and abdomen) were exposed to asbestos in some form of military service. Prolonged asbestos exposure is also known to cause lung cancer and asbestosis, both potentially fatal diseases. Veterans who served from the World War II era through the Vietnam War hold the greatest risk of exposure to the toxic substance. Furthermore, naval veterans have an increased risk of developing asbestos-related diseases due to the Navy's widespread application of asbestos-containing materials on ships and shipyards.

Military personnel (and contracted civilians) who worked with asbestos include the following:

• Boiler room workers and those who assisted below deck
• Machinery repairmen
• Machinists mates
• Shipyard workers
• Construction workers
• Instillation installers
• Demolition workers
• Renovation workers

Naval personnel who worked below deck have a heightened risk of asbestos exposure since the heat-resistant material was extensively used in engine and boiler rooms. But all sailors aboard Navy ships were exposed to asbestos, as it was used in navigation rooms, mess halls, and sleeping quarters.

Although the Navy chooses not to compile statistics in regard to how many naval veterans have died from asbestos cancer and other related diseases, other sources of statistical data reveal 26 percent of mesothelioma patients are sailors and shipyard workers. Navy veterans also account for 16 percent of asbestos-related lung cancer and 13 percent of severe respiratory diseases.

Historical records and striking evidence render this issue resoundingly clear - countless veterans across every branch were unnecessarily exposed to asbestos during military service. Many veterans survived the horrid conditions of war, dodging deadly statistics only to later discover their noble service led to the development of a fatal disease. Today, many veterans are suffering from asbestos-related diseases, such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. With symptoms ranging from respiratory problems to abdominal pain, diagnosing diseases caused by asbestos exposure can be troublesome and misleading.

If you are concerned about potential exposure to asbestos while serving in the U.S. military, please visit our pages on symptoms veterans should be aware of and what to do next if you or someone you know could be suffering from asbestos-related health problems.

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